Flexible container



Filed Aug. 8, 1933 3 Sheets-Sluel 1 Jn V612 for:

Oct. 29, 1935. F. sEMscH 2,019,160

FLEXIBLE CONTAINER Filed Aug. 8, 1953. s sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 29, 1935.lF. sEMscH 2,019,160

FLEXIBLE CONTAINER Filed Aug. s, 1953 3 sheets-sheet s .712 venan'Patented Oct. 29, 1935 Application August 8, 1933, Serial No. 684,188 InGermany August 12, 1932 7 Claims.

The object of the invention is to obtain a diaphragmatic container whichremains as far as possible unaffected by the peripheral stresses whichusually render metallic containers of this kind very short lived, andthe invention consists essentially in forming the container from a pairof hollow-pressed, elastic metal plates interconnected at the edges andformed with radially disposed, elongated bulges bounded by folding lines1o and adapted to act as bellows for taking up the peripheral stresses.

Figs. l and 2 of the accompanying drawings are diagrammatic views atright angles to each other illustrating the principle of the invention,

l5 Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a container constructed accordingto the invention,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the container,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a modied form of the containerprovided with electric driving elements,

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of Fig. 5,

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary plan view of a further modification of thecontainer,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of this container slit open along creases,and

Figs. 9-12 are sectional views illustrating different uses of thecontainer.

In Figs. l and 2four trapezoidal plates I' are assembled so as to form atruncated pyramid. If this pyramid be flattened out, the plates willspread apart and form between them radial, triangular gaps 2 as shown bydotted lines in Fig. 1. In a container comprising surfaces having theshape of the plates I, the gaps 2 are, according to the invention,bridged by bulges composed of plates pressed so as to form a pluralityof triangular facets disposed at an angle relative to one another;adapted, similarly to the folds of bellows, to expand and contract so asto enable the surfaces I to overcome the peripheral stresses and to bedeflected without material bending for changing the shape of thecontainer.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a container is illustrated comprising two hollowpressed plates which are interconnected at the edges and formed withsubstantially flat surfaces 3 and intervening radial bulges 4. Thelatter are bounded by folding line 5 along which the material bends onthe container being expanded and contracted, the peripheral stressesbeing taken up by the bulges so that the surfaces 3 can be deflectedwhile retaining a at shape. In order to increase the elasticity of thebulges the latter are preferably extended beyond the main body of thecontainer so as to (Cl. 10S-148) form radial arms 8 which taper to anedge or to a point at appropriate terminals for the bellows.

If the container is to be subjected to considerable internal pressure,the surfaces 3 may be provided with reinforcements 1 either in the formof 5 .pressed ribs, direct thickening of the walls or by the applicationthereto of separate reinforcement plates. Further reinforcements may beprovided in the form of radial bars 8 which are hingedly connected inpairs at the outer edges of the con- 10 tainer, as shown at 9, and whichengage by means of rollers I0 under flanges II provided in the centre atboth sides of the container.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the at surfaces I2 are somewhatrestricted, and the 15 bulges I3 are correspondingly widened andextended to form broad-tipped, radial arms III.

For pumping or like purposes the container may be conveniently operatedby means of electromagnets which are mounted on one side of the 20container for co-operation with armatures applied to the other side. Inthe arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 electro-magnets I5 are applied inthis manner to the ila'tssurfaces I2 as reinforcements for the latter,and another magnet 25 I6 is arranged in the centre of the container.Reinforcement plates I1, applied to the flat surfaces at the oppositeside of the container, are adapted to serve as armatures for the magnetsI5,

rand a anged connecting member I6 arranged 30 in the centre of the sameside serves as armature for the magnetv I6.

The container may take other forms than those so far described. Figs. 7and 8, for instance, showan arrangement wherein radial bulges I8 bounded35 by creases I9, are arranged close together without interveningsurfaces. I

In all instances the bulges vare preferably pressed so as to form, asbest shown in Fig. 8, a. plurality `of triangular facets.

Fig. 9 illustrates the use of a container such as described in a devicefor regulating the automatic valve of a small refrigerating machine. Thevalve V is controlled by a coil spring F which encircles the hollowvalve stem V' and bears at one 45 end against a ange on the stem and atthe other end against a casing A in which the valve seat is formed. Thevalve stem bears again st a flanged sleeve R which encircles the springand which is controlled by an annular member M having an 50 externalscrew thread by means of which it engages and can be turned in a carrierring U for an axial adjustment of the sleeve. The ring U is secured to aframe N which also holds the casing A as well as a pipe connection Cthrough 55 which the iluid controlled by the valve is led away. 'I'hesleeve R is arranged between two flexible containers B constructedaccording to the invention, the containers being in communication withthe uid space'. 'I'he upper container has one side connected to thesleeve and the other side to a flange on the pipe connection C. Thelower container has one side connected to the sleeve and the other tothe casing A. Any movement of the sleeve for regulating the valve Vresults in an expansion of one container andin a correspondingcontraction of the other container. Thus the containers compensate oneanother so that no variation in internal pressure will be produced by anadjustment of the sleeve through the medium of the controlling member M.It should be noted that no packing gland is required and that the iluidspace of the valve structure is hermetically closed by the containers sothat leakage and loss of gas and pressure will be entirely avoided. Atthe same time there is no need for any lubricant by which therefrigerant might be contaminated.

In the arrangement just described, the spring F is arranged within theiluid space. Fig. 10 shows an arrangement wherein the spring is arrangedoutside the uid space. The containers B are connected to flanges on thevalve stem R', and the controlling ring M has a ilange which takes thethrust of the lower end of the spring.

Fig. 11 shows a device for operating a valve V" arranged in a' pipeconduit. The valve casing comprises two ilanged end members yX and Y andan annular shell M" which holds the end members bymeans of a rib andgroove connection E allowing the shell to be rotated by means of a handwheel. The valve casing V" is pivoted to a hollow stem R" which passesthrough and is secured to a screw threaded member W arranged between twocontainers B constructed according to the invention. 'I'he containerscompensate each other and are connected at one side to the end membersX, Y of the valve casing and at the other side to the body W. The-latterengages in a screwy threaded nut carried by the shell M" by the rotationof which the valve can be opened and closed.

Fig. 12 shows a container constructed according tothe invention employedin a tap valve as a substitute for the packing gland. The valve cone V3is pivotally suspended from a link D which in its turn is pivoted to a-anged cup G which is rotatably coupled to a screw spindle H carried inn a yoke K and tted with a hand wheel. 'I'he yoke K is mounted on thevalve casing L. The link D passes through the container B which isconnected at one side to the cup G and at the other side to the valvecasing L. 10

I claim:

1.' A collapsible container comprising a pair of hollow pressed, elasticmetal plates interconnected at the edges and formed with radiallydisposed elongated bulges bounded by folding lines and 15 adapted to actas bellows and take up peripheral stresses.

2. A collapsible container according to claim 1 'wherein the bulges areextended like arms beyond the body portion of the container.

3. A collapsible container according to claim 1 wherein the bulges arepressed so as to form a plurality of triangular facets.

4. A collapsible container according to claim 1 wherein the bulges areseparated by substantially 25 ilat surfaces.

5. A collapsible container comprising a pair of hollow pressed, elasticmetal plates interconnected at the edges and formed with radiallydisposed. elongated bulges bounded by folding lines and separated bysubstantially fiat surfaces, andyreinforcements applied to the ilatsurfaces.

6. A collapsible container comprising a pair of 'hollow-pressed, elasticmetal plates interconnected at the edges and formed with radially dis-35 posed, elongated bulges bounded by folding lines and adapted to actas bellows to take up peripheral stresses, centrally disposed, offsetilanges on said plates, and radially disposed reinforcement barshingedly connected in pairs at the periphery 40 of the container andengaging with their free ends under said anges.

7. A container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the reinforcements at oneside of the container are constructed as electro-magnets, and those at45 the other side as armatures for said magnets.

FRANZ SEMSCH.

